It’s been nearly a year since Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, became the target of a viral meme that made her the subject of ridicule and derision. The meme featured a photo of the then-29-year-old politician, taken during a trip to the beach, wearing a red bathing suit and enjoying the sun.
The photo was taken out of context and widely shared on social media, with many people mocking Ocasio-Cortez for her appearance and suggesting that she was not fit to serve in Congress. However, the meme also sparked a backlash, with many people defending Ocasio-Cortez and criticizing those who shared the photo.
Table of Contents
The Birth of the Meme
The photo that inspired the meme was taken in 2018, during Ocasio-Cortez’s primary campaign against incumbent Joe Crowley. At the time, she was taking a break from campaigning to visit her grandmother in Puerto Rico and decided to spend some time at the beach. She posted a photo of herself in a red bathing suit on Instagram, along with a message about the importance of taking care of oneself during a busy campaign.
The photo was largely ignored at the time, but it resurfaced several months later when Ocasio-Cortez won the primary and began to gain national attention. Right-wing media outlets and social media users seized on the photo, using it to attack Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance and suggest that she was not serious or competent enough to serve in Congress.
The Backlash
The meme quickly sparked a backlash, with many people defending Ocasio-Cortez and criticizing those who shared the photo. Some pointed out that the photo was taken out of context and that Ocasio-Cortez had every right to enjoy a break from her campaign. Others noted that the meme was part of a broader pattern of sexist and racist attacks on women of color in politics.
Ocasio-Cortez herself responded to the meme with a tweet, in which she joked that she had never been to a beach in a suit before and that she was “working on the tan lines.” She also thanked her supporters for standing up for her.
The Legacy of the Meme
Although the bathing suit meme has largely faded from the public consciousness, it remains a potent symbol of the challenges faced by women of color in politics. It also serves as a reminder of the power of social media to shape public opinion and the importance of being vigilant against online harassment and abuse.
Many people have also used the meme as a way to celebrate Ocasio-Cortez’s resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Some have even created their own versions of the meme, featuring Ocasio-Cortez in a variety of settings and outfits, to show their support for her.
Response from People Who Know It
Mara Gay, New York Times Editorial Board Member
“The bathing suit meme was a prime example of the double standards and misogyny that women of color in politics face every day. It’s important to remember that these attacks are not just harmless jokes – they have real consequences for women’s careers and for our democracy as a whole.”
Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Activist and Podcaster
“The bathing suit meme was a reminder that women of color in politics are not allowed to be fully human. We are judged not just on our ideas and our qualifications, but also on our appearance and our personal lives. It’s time for us to demand better for ourselves and for our leaders.”
Julissa Arce, Author and Immigrant Rights Advocate
“The bathing suit meme was a wake-up call for many people, myself included. It showed us that even the most accomplished and respected women of color in our society are not immune to the kind of harassment and abuse that is all too common online. But it also showed us that we have the power to fight back and to demand respect for ourselves and for others.”
